GIS Applications

Ecology uses geographic information system (GIS) tools and procedures as aids
in accomplishing its mission of protecting the land, air, and waters of the
state. The agency has built and maintains the GIS applications described here in
order to help our staff and others understand the diverse natural and cultural
environment we live and work in. As a public service, we are making our GIS
applications available here.

Web Browser Applications

Information about Washington’s marine shorelines and the land areas near
Puget Sound, the outer coast, and the estuarine portion of the Columbia
River, including public access and beach closures. The Coastal Atlas
includes information about:

A collection of over 95,000 oblique
aerial photos of Washington’s shorelines. The first set is from the 1970’s
and focused on Washington's 2,500 miles of marine shoreline; the most recent
sets travel inland, covering the lakes and rivers of Eastern Washington.

The WQ Atlas is a web based map application being developed for both
Ecology staff and external users to obtain information about water quality
in Washington State. It will incorporate Ecology’s most significant surface
water information into one searchable tool. This will include data for many
of Ecology’s delegated responsibilities under the Clean Water Act: WQ
standards, Assessment Waters, Permits/Outfalls, and the Improvement Project
(TMDLs).

Water Rights and Wells web site that
provides access through an interactive map to information maintained by the
Water Resources Program (Program) within the Department of Ecology as well
as links to other water resource related information.

Water and habitat assessments that compare areas within a watershed for
restoration and protection value. It is a coarse-scale tool that supports
decisions regarding where efforts should be focused and What types of
actions to take at that place.